New to Ghosts of Tabor? Start Here

Start-here topics

• What is an extraction shooter? You drop into a raid, loot, fight or avoid AI and other players, then leave through an extraction point. Anything you extract with is yours. Die before extract and you lose what you brought and what you found — except what is in your Alpha Container. That loop is the whole game. See the wiki Beginner FAQ.
• What should I do in my first raid? Finish the in-game tutorial, then run Silo or Miest on a cheap pistol loadout. Know your extracts before you spawn, bring food, water, and at least one bandage, and extract as soon as you have something worth keeping. Do not bring gear you cannot afford to lose. Full checklist: New Player Survival Guide.
• What happens when I die? You lose the kit you took in and everything you looted, unless it is in your Alpha Container — that slot is always safe. Untreated bleeds, a head or torso at 0%, or hunger/thirst hitting zero can kill you even if you still “feel” like you have health. Bandage first, then heal with an NRS.
• How do extracts work? Each spawn only unlocks some extracts, not every one on the map. Your squad shares the same list. Some extracts wait 5–15 minutes (Silo and Mall ~5, Miest/Matka ~10, Island ~15). A siren means it is open — stand in the zone until the countdown finishes, and do not leave early. Memorize at least two extracts before you drop. Details: Extraction Guide.
• What should I keep? Keep a cheap primary you can replace (G3A3 or similar), AP ammo when you can afford it, a rig with armor, bandages, and an NRS. Keycards, rare guns, and high-tier armor beat a backpack full of junk. Leave low-value filler behind so you have room for the next good find.
• What should I sell? Sell gear you will not run, extra rations, and loot from foxtrots. Do not hoard “maybe later” items while you are broke. Insurance is usually not worth it on expensive kits — other players take them. Cheap food and water insurance is the exception. Money routes: Money Making Guide.
• How do traders work? Traders buy loot and sell guns, ammo, meds, and rigs. Stack quests so one raid completes several tasks. Spend early money on a primary, at least one mag of AP, a armored rig, meds, then night vision for Silo. Wipe resets everyone — that is normal, not a bug.
• How do armor and weapons work? FMJ often bounces off plate carriers. Bring AP when you expect players. Class 1 armor (LBAV) is a cheap start against FMJ. Match the gun to the map: shotgun or MP7 for Mall CQB, bigger rifles for Island sightlines. Headshots matter. More: Ammo Guide and Armor & Equipment.
• How do I learn maps? Start on Silo (small, short extract). Miest next. Island is large but learnable. Mall has dense foxtrots — take a BOA the first time. Skip Matka Underground until you have AP and map sense. Use landmarks, not just the watch. Map pages: BOA map guides.
• How do I find teammates? BOA is teaching, not looking-for-group. For raid partners use the LFG channels in the official Ghosts of Tabor Discord.
• What is Training Mode? Use the in-game tutorial first, then the bunker firing range to practice mag changes, charging handles, and reloads before you take a kit into a live raid. If VR makes you sick, switch to teleport, enable vignette, and take breaks every 30–45 minutes. VR & Comfort Guide.
• When should I ask BOA for help? When you want an instructor, not just a teammate. Have a mic, Discord, platform, experience level, availability, and a short list of what you want to learn. Open a ticket in 🐍・request-a-boa, answer every question within an hour, and wait — average queue is often a few weeks. BOAs are unpaid volunteers, not a carry or gear-handout service. Step-by-step: Get Help and the wiki Getting Started.

Mistakes that get new players killed

• Sprinting everywhere (loud) and crossing open ground without cover — trees do not stop bullets
• FMJ into armored players — bring AP for PvP maps
• Not knowing extracts before you spawn
• Staying greedy instead of extracting with decent loot
• Ignoring foxtrots, especially on Mall
• No bandages, food, or water

Full write-up: Common Mistakes Guide.

Ready for a BOA session?

Join the BOA Hub, open a ticket, and learn with a volunteer. Sessions are usually about an hour. You can record if you tell your BOA first.

Also useful: Ghosts of Tabor Wiki · BOA Hub Wiki · Survival Guide